Process of filling and emptying a constantly pressurized container

Abstract

A method of filling a container continually under superatmospheric pressure with flowable granular solids and removing the solids from the container utilizing entrance and discharge locks provided for liquid filling of the locks, gas-pressure equalization between the locks and liquid transfer from the entrance to the discharge lock. A liquid/solid separator is provided for the outflow from the discharge lock and the recovered liquid is stored.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of filling a container while continuously under a superatmospheric pressure with flowable granular solids and removing flowable granular solids from said container, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said flowable granular solids into an entrance lock chamber which is open and in a pressure-relieved state, and then substantially completely filling said chamber with a liquid and sealing said entrance lock chamber;   (b) connecting a discharge lock chamber, containing flowable granular solids in a closed state and under a pressure of a gas approximately as high as the pressure in said container, with said entrance lock chamber by a gas line to equalize pressures between said chambers;   (c) conducting liquid from said entrance lock chamber to said discharge lock chamber through a liquid line, thereby displacing gas from said discharge lock chamber to said entrance lock chamber through said gas line, and thereafter closing said lines;   (d) transferring said flowable granular solids from said entrance lock chamber to said container while supplying gas from said container to said entrance lock chamber to pressurize said entrance lock chamber;   (e) relieving pressure in said discharge lock chamber and transferring liquid and solids therefrom to a liquid/solid separator from which separated liquid is supplied to a storage tank.;   (f) thereafter filling said discharge lock chamber with liquid and opening said gas line to effect pressure equalization between said chambers;   (g) subsequently opening said liquid line to transfer liquid from siad discharge lock chamber to said entrance lock chamber and displace gas from said entrance lock chamber to said discharge lock chamber;   (h) thereafter closing said lines and transferring the flowable granular solids from said container to said discharge lock chamber; and   (i) relieving pressure in said entrance lock chamber and transferring liquid therefrom to said storage tank.   
     
     
       2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said chambers have the same volumetric capacity. 
     
     
       3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the gas in said chambers and said gas line corresponds in composition to a gas atmosphere in said container. 
     
     
       4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.